Shirley Goode, the BBC's cost-cutting-cook, is back sharing her hints and tips, together with money-saving recipes. Follow her journal and find out what works and what doesn't.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Comparing Costs

Needing to start a new jar of instant coffee (Nescafe Original), decided to count out how many teaspoonfuls there were in the jar. Only a bare teaspoon I may add as I like my coffee fairly weak with just a splash of milk and a couple of sweeteners. But made in a mug, not a teacup. Twere 140 spoons of coffee in the 200g jar. How much this works out depends on the size of the jar purchased. The price per 100g seems to fluctuate so be careful when buying, as a larger jar does not necessarily work out the cheapest way to buy. Comparison pricing below (from Tesco’s online ‘Express Shopper’) shows we can save 8p if we buy 2 x 100g jars rather than one 200g jar.Buy a 100g jar and we pay £2.18 per 100gA 200g jar was shown as £2.22p per 100gA 300g jar worked out at £2.06p per 100gAnd a 500g tin was cheapest of all at £1.97 per 100g.Other stores may sell the same coffee for higher or lower prices, and with all stores, It is always worth waiting until the ‘reduced’ or ‘offer’ prices comes round again, then buy several jars to see us through until the next time.Anyway, the spoon of coffee averaged around 3p. If you like your coffee stronger, it would probably work out at around 5p Can’t really grumble at that, can we?You can see now why I complain at the prices charged for a cup of coffee in some places. And yes I know, it is probably made with freshly ground beans using an expensive machine that makes even more expensive noises, but a weak coffee with a dash of milk suits me, so see no reason why I have to fork out a good amount of dosh (especially when the coffee is made with instant) just because they like to call it a ‘latte’. Which - when translated – just means coffee with milk.

Most kitchen appliances, used wisely, can save us money rather than encouraging us to spend more (an electric slicing machine pays for itself after a couple of joints have been cooked and sliced)..On the other hand a shop will suggests we take out an insurance for a fridge or washing machine (and stupidly I have done this with both) “in case it breaks down” ( is it that we just don’t trust manufacturers any more?). In the old days, things rarely broke down and probably repaired free if they did. The manufacturer has his pride.

Now ‘breaking down’ is built in as part of the package of at least some cars and some household appliances. All I can say is – take out the insurance and it almost guarantees it will NOT break down. Don’t take the insurance and it surely will. Usually the day after the warranty finishes.

About Me

A chatty being, especially anything to do with cookery, and self-sufficiency. Loves the challenge of making the most of what we've got, and spending less each time I take up a new challenge. No age limit to enjoying the fun of it all, so always hoping more and more will be interested in the whole cost-cutting game.